Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-08-19

IA Win yOu quick, anu lney Will
have to kill me before they lay hands on
you" l replied, and she disappeared be-
meath the cover with astonishing celebrity.
The gallop came nearer and nearer,
and presently voice hailed me:
"fhe camp thar-hellop
"Who is itin
'Friends."
"Come in"
With that half breed and a Kicka-
poo came riding into camp on horses
which had neither saddle nor blanket
Both men looked savage and sullen, and
were well armed. The half-brecd could
speak very good English, and when he
had come to a halt and looked around,
he said:
eve are after the woman who came
into your camp couple of hours ago. l
see her horse over there"
"By what authority do you demand
herr"
"None of your business. We have
come for her, and we mean to have
her."
"Do you mean that you will take her
by force~
81 do; and let me give you piece of
advice. see you are tenderfoot.
Don't put on too many airs in this county.
It's great place to have ones wings
clipped in hurry. Don't attempt any
foolishness with us, or you'll never know
what hurt you"
had my Winchester in hand and two
revolvers in my belt. Had been hot
tempered man. there would have been
some shooting Sefore he had concluded
his bombastic speech. / am slow to anger,
especially when human life may pay the
forfeit, and heard him through without
being rolled. The woman was hidden
away in the wagon, and had not revealed
her presence to them by word or move.
''lf the woman chooses to go with you,
well and good" | answered, as l looked
the fellow over by the light of the camp
fire. 'If she does not you cannot take
her."
ooh, VIC can't, eh2 You crow pretty
loud for spring chicken. Well, ask
the woman to make choice"
The wagon was about ten PAGES from
the fire, and in the shadow, although not
so much so that could not see it pretty
plainly. had made step toward it
when saw a black object under the
wheels, and, supposing it to be wolf, l
raised my gun and took snap shot,
caring only to send bullet near enough
to drive it away The object disappeared
with the echoes of the report, and as
walked along to the wagon the two men,
who had not dismountcd, accompanied
me. Standing within five feet of the
vehicle called to the woman and asked
if she desired to go with the men, and
she replied:
ooh! sir, save me from them, even if
you have to shoot me-"
"But you've got to Gomez shouted
the half breed.
"She shall not CO." I shouted at him.
81 give you two villains sixty seconds in
which to leave camp. Now go"
They were both together, and my rifle
covered both. They looked straight at
me for fifteen or twenty seconds, and
then turned and rode away in the dark
ness. | followed them for a hundred
yards, when they urged their horses to a
gallop, and rode to the north without
looking back. / stood and looked after
them until l could no longer hear the
beat of their horses hoofs, and l felt
rather proud of my nerve in driving
them away. 1t did not occur to me until
next day that either or both of them
could have got the drop on me up to the
time raised my rifle, and that while
they were making threats of what they
would do they left their rifles lying
across their saddles. They simply per-
mitted me to force them out of camp al
the muzzle of my Winchester, and that
: was part of their plan When | re
turned to the fire the woman was beside
it, her face betraying fear and success
and as soon as / came up she clasped he
3 hands and tearfuliy exclaimed:
"Oh, you will not let them take mi
7 away will mott"
; assured her that they had beer
r driven off, and that she was safe, and he
gratitude was unbounded. 1t was nov
r 10 o'clock and after, and Patton had no
1 yet returned. 1t was useless to expec
8 him until morning, and | set about pre-
g pairing the camp for the night. AS ther
a was a strong probability that the tw
: men driven off would secure reinforce
k ments and return during the night, tie
r the horse to the wagon, told the woma
s that she could occupy the vehicle, an
n prepared to spend the night on guard
9 She seemed to oppose this latter arrange
c ment, doubling if the men would return
c and declaring 1t was a sacrifice on m
C part she could not accept. bundle
b her into the wagon, however, promisin
o that l might catch nap after or
). o'clock if all was quiet, and by and by
it let the fire go down and took my circl
! around the camp with cat-like step.
If few coyotes and wolves came about, bl
G nothing seemed to disturb me, and IL
N hours passed away until O'clock. B
1t that time was very tired and sleepy.
ID dared not stretch out for a regular slee]
Of knowing that the danger was not "
y passed, but / sat down on a knoll abol
forty feet north of the wagon to nap
little, knowing that any noise of accoul
4 would instantly arouse me. 1t was pc
haps a quarter of an hour before actual
t. fell asleep, and almost instantly begs
30 to dream. | dreamed that was til
ny fast to tree on the plains, and that
Id rattlesnakc was crawling toward m
IN The snake was coming to bite me, and
al was helpless. Every movement of Il
reptile was as vivid as if the dream hi
ry been reality, and my mind was as Gle
er as bell. The serpent came very slowl
of hating every two or three feet to rear
err head and look about, and when it W
he within ten feet its form changed. 1t W
re, yet serpent, but it had small broy
he hand, and the hand clutched build
ne pistol. The pistol was pointed full
IT. me, and / saw that the hammer was
It. "Whizz!" went a shadow before I